The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-11-17

fist childrcns Here is where the narrownesS
Of his creed is contradic;cl by the breadth Of
his svmpathcs, for Sturgeon made it tho
first clause OF the trust decd that the children
arr TO lie admitted simply and solely accord
ing to the greatest needs of the case. Creed
has nothing to do with admission, and SO it
happens that the very best and least sccta-
rian orphanlgc in London is that of Spur
gcon, the Calvinist
Then he built his Pastors college, which
receives young men, generally poorly etlu-
Gated, but they must show quality to suit
Spurgeon. These are thoroughly trained to
the ministry, and about ten of the largest and
most active Baptist churches in London were
built by "Spurgcon Students" who are
among the most popular and active preachers
there. The provinces and the foreign mis-
sion field can show few hundred more.
Spurgcon has had immense lcnrfactions
from many admirers, lut he has never kept
q cent for himself, and he has always given il
large share of his income to each Of his hob
bies, of which only two are here named The
social and moral work of his congregation IS
immense in their denseIy populated quarter
Many would suppose Slurscon to lie :, bon
vivant to look at him. As a fact, he is rarely
free from the torturcs of hereditary govt.
These twenty years he has suffered martyr
dom from neuralgia and sciatic pains, and
has to pass part of each winter in the south
CT France. He used to drive up
to his tabernacle on a5unday riorning with
nice cigar i'll his lips, and another OF leav-
ing, but that ws;S medicinal rather than as
luxury. For a good many Years he has re-
dutcl his diet until he is almost q vegetarian
and quite tcctotaler. Despite his hard
work he remains ilabby fat. His Treasury
OF David' "a commentary on the PsalnlsD,
his John Ploughnlall'. Talk" and his ser
no.i have an cnorlGo,l; sale. In fact, Spur
GeoilS productions and the incitlcntals have
lecl the sole business q Il large publishing
Eousc Tor many years Mrs Spurgcon has
been confirmed invalid for twenty-five
years, dating from the birth of their second
SON The two early became preachers, one
being settled in Australia, but neither of
them has his father; Gcniality or genius.
Spurgeon was one day demonstrated with on
bis luxurious habit of driving to church ION
the Sabbath day "Ah," said he, ''you
think lnl Sabbath breaker, CHI, Wen. now.
you see, I'd thought of that, 50 I engaged a
jew coachman What's wrong row."
That may be all right II; regards the man,
but the poor horse slloulI have its day of
rest, shouldn't it, Oh, the mares a Jewcss.
too. | always rut her to grass on Satur-
days.'
Politically Sturgeon has always been
lta'lical, and ii he could have exchanged his
preaching for political work he would long
ago have been the foremost leader in Eng
land. Latterly he has disapproved of Glad
stones Irish policy. He has always been a
StaiWart advocate of the disestablishment
movement though he not long ago wrote
this significant opinio,e There is growing
up i'll our dissenting churches an evil which
greatly deplorc, despisn:s Of the poor"
In his own work and sphere Sturgeon is q
truly devoted helper Of the poor in every
substantial way, and, as before observed. it
is not only what he docs himself but he has
lcen and is the cause of similar enthusiasm
III othcis-morc SO than can be said of any
otlcr living preacher or philanthropist in
England
\ paragraph ha.; been going round that
Siurgcon refused the offer of 500, 0UO for 100
lectures i'll the states. Whether the figures
are right or not | know not, but do know
that Sturgeon has a profound, almost an in
sane horror, of hiring himself out on show.
md the preacher deserves profound respect
who takes so high q view of his office have
seen u letter of his in which he stated that a
shipload of bullion would not tempt him to
hire himself out as a lecturer He can be
heard preaching in railway sheds to work
men 'lurin:; dinner tn;ir, but never has he
r"ckcte'l Il cent for preaching except his
modest stipend, which, l believe, is 1000 a
year.
''purGeon must not be spoken of as "a
great prc,chcr'' He is that in one sense,
though not in another, but above the cleric
h" stands Il noble personality, !, great iniIu-
cncc, a good man, and thorough John Bull
OSCAR I.NSN